National Highways has postponed this weekend’s planned installation of a bridge as part of the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross upgrade.

The A30 was due to be fully closed this weekend between the Boxheater junction and Chiverton Cross roundabout, to enable the installation of a new Tolgroggan accommodation bridge.

This closure has now been lifted and the operation will be pushed back a week to the weekend of February 10 to 13 to allow for further preparatory work.

It means a six-mile stretch of the road will be closed over the first weekend of the February half term break in Cornwall.

Costain, National Highways’ principal contractors for the road upgrade, have identified unsuitable ground conditions for the lifting operation.

Neil Winter, National Highways’ senior project manager for the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross scheme, said: “Our contractors have detected unsuitable ground conditions for the crane deployment, and we have taken the decision to put back the bridge installation by a week to ensure everything is right for what will be a large-scale lifting operation.

“Adverse weather - a mixture of heavy rainfall and low temperatures - hasn’t helped recently; these circumstances are out of our control, and the safety and effectiveness of the operation are our primary concerns.

“Although we would have preferred to lift the bridge deck in place this coming week, we have allowed contingency in our programme, and decided to postpone to the following weekend to ensure that everything is in place ahead of the installation operation, and to give people as much notice as we can.

“The extra time will improve the ground in terms of firmer footings for the crane operation, and we’re confident a slight delay will help the teams with that, without impacting on our future road opening date.

“We apologise for any confusion caused by the postponement of this weekend’s closure but we understand that people need to plan their journeys and feel we need to show due diligence in making sure everything is 100%.”

To enable the installation of the new bridge, the A30 will be closed from 8pm on Friday, February 10, and reopened to traffic by 6am on Monday, February 13.

Clearly signed diversions will be in place via the Boxheater Junction and Chiverton Cross roundabout, with eastbound traffic diverted via the A3075 to Goonhavern and the B3285 to rejoin the A30.

The westbound diversion will operate in reverse, with the B3284 remaining open under temporary traffic signals north and south across the Chybucca roundabout.

Ahead of the revised weekend closure, National Highways is advising drivers to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys while the bridge installation is carried out.

The bridge operation still remains weather dependent and in the event of adverse weather on the newly programmed weekend, a further contingency weekend for February 17 to 20 is in place.

During the weekend closure, drivers can obtain travel information on the @HighwaysSWEST Twitter feed, by phoning the National Highways Information Line on 0300 123 5000 or by accessing the website: www.trafficengland.com